Preservationists are expressing concern
about the Whitney Museum of American Arts proposed expansion
plan. Unveiled in late 2004, the plan calls for demolishing
two brownstones on Madison Avenue and significantly altering
a third one on 74th Street to make way for a new entrance
courtyard and nine-story gallery tower designed by Renzo Piano.
One of the brownstones is listed as a contributing building
to the surrounding Upper East Side Historic District.

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At a public hearing on February 1, representatives from the
New York Landmarks Conservancy, the Municipal Art Society,
and others said that if the New York City Landmarks Preservation
Commission approves the Whitneys plan it would set a
negative precedent for demolishing other contributing buildings.

Adam Weinberg, the Whitneys director, responds that
the museum has always intended to expand its existing structure--designed
by Marcel Breuer and opened in 1966--and thus purchased surrounding
brownstones before the neighborhood became a historic district
in 1981. He adds that proposed expansion includes restoring
three other adjacent brownstones, which has won the museum
the support of Manhattan Community Board 8 and other local
groups.

The Landmarks Preservation Commission will hold one or more
additional meetings at which it can ask the museum to modify
its proposal. If approved, the plan next would head to the
citys Board of Standards and Appeals, where preservationists
say theyll continue pressuring for the brownstones
protection.